Howard Hawkins Obituary

Obituary

Hawkins
Howard Carl
Beloved Husband, Father, grandfather, businessman, role model
Howard went to be with his Lord and Savior Monday January 26th 2015. He was 82.
Born to 2nd generation Swedish immigrant parents in 1932, Howard was raised with two sisters Hazel and Helen, by a single mother (Elsie) as his father (Carl) died in 1940. A 1950 graduate of Minnehaha Academy Howard joined the navy followed by technical school at Dunwoody Institute, learning welding and blacksmithing. In 1956, along with boyhood friend and business partner Art Engstrom, he purchased Hazel Park Radio and Bicycle on White Bear Ave. and E. 7th St. in St. Paul. That small store would move in 1967 to White Bear Ave. and Hwy 36 and grow to become Park Schwinn, a perennial national top-10 Schwinn dealership. There would eventually be three locations and all were sold by 1981 so the pair could concentrate on a fledgling bicycle tool business they'd been running alongside the retail stores. That small tool company would grow to become the world's largest supplier of bicycle tools, Park Tool Company, now in Oakdale. Known universally as one of the pioneers in the bike industry Howard retired in 2003 to ride his bike, work in his woodshop and to watch his 13 grandchildren grow up. Howard's legacy reaches far beyond the world of business as he was known by all as an honest, ethical, generous, wise guide and follower of Christ. He was a wonderful father and a steady mentor to many, including hundreds of employees over his 50 years in business. His influence in the world is far reaching and will be felt for generations to come. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.